Trying my hands at Numerology

We at Chowgules had our first REUNION event for ALUMNI, in which students were given an opportunity to set up stalls. The purpose was to boost their creativity, enable them to have an first hand experience of commerce and to help them socialize.

I personally set up a stall based on numerology and got a great response. Some were attracted to the stall by the faith they had in numerology whereas others could not resist their curiosity!! Overall it was fun and true joy of giving happiness to people through such an interesting service.

My stall was named : LUCK DA DHABA!!

Compering Indian Classical Music concerts and other competitions

I have compered a few concerts and competitions to list the prominent ones this year :

1. The Sakal Karandak (Inter-collegiate One act play competition 2012 - Goa section)

2. Dev Gandhaar (Jan 2012)

3.  Navaanur (Oct 2012) (the inter- higher secondary school competitions)

 

 

Dev Gandhaar is an Indian Classical Music Concert held every year to commemorate the death anniversary of Gaan Ramayya Late Pt. Rajabhau Dev (Father of my Guru Dr. Alka Dev Marulkar). I was fortunate to be given the opportunity of compering the 4th Dev Gandhaar (in English). It was not just a good opportunity in the field of compering but a golden opportunity to pay homage to the great performer.

 

Navaankur was an initiative of Department of Marathi of Chowgule College, consisting of three competitions which were as follows:

1.       Elocution competition

2.       Monologue competition

3.       Singing competition

From the above, I compered the Elocution competition with one of my friends, where one of us was dressed as Soirabai – Shivaji Maharaj’s wife – a character from the Marathi historical play – Raigadala Jevha Jaag Yete and another was a 21^st century college girl. We started out with an argument over the increasing influence of western culture over Indian youth. The compering was done in a semi-formal style.

 

Breaking the barriers of language with MUSIC!

I was a part of Faculty-Students exchange programme between Chowgule College, Goa and Waseda University, Tokyo. During this programme, I performed in an event called Indian Cultural Night, organized with an aim to impart a better understanding of India to the Japanese students and teachers.
I sang an invocation song at the start of the event, dedicated to Goddess Saraswati (Hindu Goddess of Knowledge and 64 Arts); made a presentation on India which covered different aspects of the country from history, architecture, religion to politics, economics, cuisine and climate; chanted the Ganapati Stotra (sanskrit religious composition in praise of Lord Ganesh); presented an Hindustani Classical Vocal Recital and also performed Kunbi (a Goan Tribal dance) and Mando with a group of students.

I was a bit apprehensive as far as the understanding was concerned because I was singing in a language totally unknown to the audience. After the event a group of students and teachers came to me and they had no words to express the joy they felt after listening to Indian Classical Music. One of them, Ms. Iizuka was literally in tears, she being a Japanese traditional harp player could even appreciate some universal technical elements of voice and music like the smoothness of notes, melodious patterns etc.

It was for the first time that my art was appreciated at the International level. This is an experience that I am going to cherish for my lifetime.

This made me realise the unique ability that Music has, of touching a person's soul. Being an art, it can break away the barriers of language and give  happiness to the listener an immense satisfaction of being able to reach the hearts of the audience to the performer.

Aim of the Blog

 

 

I aim to exhibit my talents and search for new ones  by making a note of activities I am involved in on this blog. Readers can expect posts about - Indian classical music (Hindustani Vocal), English, Marathi and Sanskrit literature, Indian and Japanese culture etc - all based on my understanding - a few drops that I have managed to grasp from these oceans of knowledge and joy.

 

 

About the Writer

 Hello readers,

This is Ambika Kamat, a student from India. I am into Indian Classical Music (Hindustani Vocal). I perform in concerts and for events (may it be a small 3 minute invocation song or a recital). I also take sessions on the same which are preliminary and introductory in nature usually meant for students and common people, who have not taken any formal training in the field. An example of which could be sessions taken for Swedish students under the Students exchange programme between Chowgule College, Goa and Gymnasiums from Stockholm, Sweden.

 

I also write articles, short stories and poems in English and Marathi. Some of them have won prizes in competitions and also have been published in local newspapers and magazines.

 

I am a part of Students exchange programme (2012) between Chowgule College, India and Waseda University, Japan.

 

Readers interested in giving me an opportunity to perform or publish my work can contact me on : avk001@chowgules.ac.in